Belt-stretcher.



110.354,343. i PATENTED MAY 21,1907.

s. 11..,BsHELMAN.

. BELT STRETCHER. APPLIGATION FILED 11511.10, 1906. x-nmmwnn APR. 11, 19o?.

z slums-SHEET 1.

` 1N: muuu! rlrzlu eo., WAJIIINONM n. c.

. UNITED STATES APATENT OFFICE.

i STEPHEN F. ESIIELMAN, OF SARDIS, GHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO DAVID E. TI-IOENEN, `OF SISTERSVILLE, WEST VIRGINIA.

BELT-STRETCHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 21, 1907.

To `af/ZZ wlw-m, it may concern:

Be it known that I, STEPHEN F. EsHEL- MAN, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Sardis, county of Monroe, and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Belt- Stretchers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in belt-stretchers,-and more `particularly to a device adapted for stretching heavy machinery-belts.

The object of my invention is to'provide a simple device for stretching belts and analogous articles which may be conveniently applied and manipulated by one man, and which, after the belt has been stretched, will securely hold the same while its ends are being spliced.

A further object is to provide abeltstretcher by means of which a belt may be stretched without-removing the latter from the pulleys on which it is mounted.l

In describing the inventionin detail, reference is herein had `to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- 1 Figure 1 is av perspective view ofthe invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same applied to a belt, showing in full lines the positions occupied by the various parts at the beginning of the belt-stretching operation, and in dotted lines the positions of the same when the belt has been stretched; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the invention; Fig. 4 is a side elevation'ofa portion'of the invention, enlarged, showing in full lines the positions assumed by the parts composing the jack before the lever is moved forward, and in dotted lines the positions assumed by said parts when said lever is moved forward; and Fig. 5 is a cross section enlarged on the line 4 4, Fig. 3.

Referring to said drawings, in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the several views-l indicates a longitudinal bar, in the upper face of which is an integral toothed rack 2, the teeth 3 thereof being forwardly-directed, as shown. Said bar 1 is rigidly mounted at its front end upon a belt-clamp 4 comprising two oppositely-disposed sections 5 and 6 which are adapted to be secured together by bolts 7 to firmly hold a belt 8 therebetween. In the opposing face of one of said sections is a longitudinal channel 9, and in the opposing face of the other section is a correspondingly-shaped longitudinalfrib 10, the object of said channel and ribv being to slightly flex the belt 8 which is passed between said sections and thus secure a firmer grasp than would be possible were said opposing faces plain. The sections composing said clamp 4 are preferably of metal, and may be, and are preferably, provided with longitudinal dove tail channels in their opposing faces, in which channels are fitted correspondinglyshaped tongue pieces 5.a and' 6a of a softer material, preferably wood, the object being to provide a construction `which is not only strong andv durable but which is also adapted for retaining a firm grip or grasp upon a belt insertedin said clamp. When said tongue-pieces are employed, the channel 9 and rib 10 are provided therein, as shown. The opposite end of the bar 1 is slidably mounted upon a beltclamp 11, similar in construction to the clamp 4, and on the section 5 of the clamp 11 is rigidly mounted in a suitable 'manner a ack 12. Said jack' consists of a box-like support having sides 13 in which is pivotally mounted a lever 14. Said box-like support has a passage-way 15 in its front end in which the bar 1`is slidable and throughwhichsaid bar is guided. Said lever 14 is bifurcated at its point or lower end, and in the bifurcation at the point of the lever is pivotally mounted va rearwardly-extending dog 16. Also pivotally mounted in said bifurcation above and slightly in the rear of said dog 16 is a second dog 17. Said dogs are both adapted for enmore of said teeth intervening.

In stretching a belt the invention operates substantially as follows: The belt-clamps 4 and 1 1 are iirst secured upon the belt byiirmly bolting the sections composing them thereon, the clamp 11 having been previously sli ped back to the rear end of the bar 1 so as to eave a considerable space between said clamps. The lever and dogs normally stand in substantially the positions indicated in full lines in Fig. 4. The lever 14 is then thrust forward to substantially the position indicated in dotted lines in said figure. The dog 16, which is in engagement with a tooth 3 in said rack 2, remains stationary, retaining a firm hold upon said tooth, hence said action draws the gaging the teeth 3 of the rack 2 with one or clamps 4 and 11, secured to the belt, slightly toward each other, stretching said belt, while the dog 17 trails over the teeth which stand between said dogs, and, at the end of the forward movement of the lever, said dog 17 drops into engagement with the tooth which stands immediately behind that engaged by the dog 16, where it retains a firm hold upon the rack while the lever is being drawn back to its normal position. When said lever is being drawn back, the dog 16, which is pivoted at a point in front of the fulcrui'n, slips forward over the teeth of the rack and, at the end of the backward stroke of the lever, drops into engagement with a tooth some distance in front of the position occu ied by the dog 17. In moving the lever ack the beltclamps 4 and 11 are caused to approach each other slightly, thus further stretching the belt. It will thus be seen that the belt is stretched both by the forward and rearward movement of the lever. The manipulation of the lever may be continued until the belt-clamps stand side by side, or until all the slack has been taken up, as shown in Fig. 2, when the slacked portion 18 may be conveniently out and the ends spliced, the vsaid belt being firmly held by the device.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a belt-stretcher, two belt-clamps adapted to be attached some distance apart upon a belt, a longitudinal bar bearing a toothed rack, said bar rigidly secured at one end to one of said clamps and slidably mounted at its opposite end u on theother of said clamps, a support rigid y mounted upon the last-mentioned clamp, said support embracing and guiding said bar, a lever pivotally mounted in said support over said bar, and tWo dogs pivoted in the end of said lever for engaging the teeth of said rack, substantially as described.

2. In a belt-stretcher, two belt-holding clamps adapted to be attached at some distance apart upon a belt, a longitudinal bar bearing a toothed rack in its upper face, said bar rigidly secured at one end to one of said clamps and slidably mounted at its opposite end upon the other of said clamps, a support rigidly mounted upon the last mentioned clamp, said support embracing and guiding said bar, over said last mentioned clamp a lever pivotally mounted in said support over said bar, rearwardly-extending dogs pivoted, one in front of the other, in the point of said lever, the front dog being adapted to firmly engage said rack when said lever is moved forward while the rear dog trails over the teeth which intervene between said dogs, andA the rear dog adapted to firmly engage said rack when said-lever is moved backward while the front dog slides forward over the teeth, substantially as described.

3. In a device for stretching belts and analogous articles, a longitudinal toothed rack-bar with forwardly-directed teeth, a belt-holding clamp rigidly secured to said rack-bar at its front end, a second belt-holding clamp movably attached to said rack-bar at the rear end thereof, each of said clamps comprising two companion sections having dovetail channels therein in their opposing faces, and tongue-pieces fitted in said channels, a j ack rigidly secured upon said movable clam and adapted for engagement with said rackar whereby said movable clamp may be caused to travel forward along saidrackbar, substantially as described.

4. In a belt-stretcher, a longitudinal toothed rack-bar, two belt-holding clamps, one of which is rigidly secured to the front end of said rack-bar and the other movable on said rack-bar, each of said clamps comprising two sections adapted to be bolted together about a belt, said sections having channels therein in their o posing faces, tongue-piecesfitted in said cliiannels, and a jack rigidly secured upon said movable clamp in engagement with the teeth of said rack-bar, said jack comprising a support, a lever fulcrumed in said support, and two rearwardly-extending teeth-engaging dogs pivoted in the point of said lever, whereby when said lever is manipulated said movable clamp is caused to travel forward along said rack-bar, substantially as described.

, In testimony whereof I afIiX my signature in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' STEPHEN F. ESHELMAN.

Witnesses:

P. J. NoRRIs, J osEPH WITTEN. 

